Animal RescueIndia

Volunteers work at a treatment centre and sanctuary for injured and abused animals. It is a home to over 300 animals including dogs, cows, donkeys, pigs, cats, tortoises, goats, birds, a buffalo and any other animal in need. Volunteers provide hands on help and care to the many animals on site and each day volunteers are needed to help with the daily feeding and cleaning of the animal areas.

Volunteers carry out a variety of roles depending on the needs of the project at the time, including:

• Daily sessions in the dog areas - comforting, bathing, feeding and walking
• One to one time with paralysed and recently injured dogs
• Caring for animals after their initial treatments
• Preparing and distributing food and water
• Cleaning the animal enclosures
• Assisting the vets and nurses
• Helping to care for abandoned puppies
• Monitoring the animals and helping with their rehabilitation
• Giving physical and hydro-therapy to disabled animals
• Spending time giving attention to each animal and recording any injuries or infections

For more information on the centre and the treatment they provide for animals please click here.

“Volunteers can save lives at the Animal Rescue project by helping our nurses and doctors treat animals, encouraging sick or shy dogs to eat, bottle feeding orphaned animals and many more adventure await helping animals in India”
Raj, Street Animal Rescue team

Typical day

Volunteers work 5 days per week, Monday to Friday, from around 9.30am to 4.30pm. Volunteers travel to the centre in a taxi which is provided.

In your first few days at the project you will receive an an introduction to the volunteer role and during your first week you will have daily Hindi lessons.

Weekends are free to experience free time activities and the exciting trips which are included.

Other volunteers

There are normally 1-3 volunteers who work alongside local volunteers and staff at the centre. Animal Rescue, Child Care and Community Education volunteers all live together so there are normally 5-12 volunteers at the accommodation with a maximum of 18. Some volunteers choose to combine the different volunteer roles while in India.

Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) award

This placement has been approved by the DofE as meeting the requirements for the Residential section of the Gold Award.

Local support

Ravi and Gaurav are brothers and support volunteers whilst they are in India. Neha is Ravi’s wife and also supports volunteers, teaching cooking and henna, and helping buy locally made saris and spices. Gaurav lives at the volunteer accommodation and Ravi and Neha live nearby. You will also be supported by the staff at the animal rescue centre, including Raj who is a volunteer coordinator.

Volunteers live in a family guesthouse alongside the local team. You share a bedroom with up to 3 other volunteers on a single-sex basis and each bedroom has its own bathroom.

The accommodation is simple but clean and has a TV room, dining room, kitchen and has WIFI. The accommodation is a 20 minute drive from the Animal Rescue centre.

Meals

All main meals are provided by the local team and are vegetarian. Here are typical examples of the food you will have: 

• Breakfast – bread, toast, cereals, spreads and fresh fruit
• Lunch and dinner – traditional Northern Indian curries with rice and local bread

In the afternoons there is sometimes local chai tea to enjoy.

Vegans are welcomed and can be catered for.

Drinking water is provided at the volunteer accommodation which you can take to the project with you. 

The project is based on the outskirts of Udaipur, a vibrant city that attracts visitors with its colourful temples and palaces. A day can easily be spent exploring the colourful street markets with beautiful Rajasthan jewellery and clothing. Known to locals as the “City of Lakes”, it is now considered one of the most romantic destinations in India, thanks to its lakes and mountainous scenery!

Lake Pichola is a relaxing spot to try local cuisines and admire the stunning views of the Lake Palace, Monsoon Palace and the surrounding mountains. The Jagdish Temple and City Palace are interesting places to visit to learn more about the local culture and history.

Volunteers can arrange trips to some of India’s famous sights and cities including day trips to the nearby medieval hilltop fortress of Kumbhagargh (the second longest wall in the world!) and Ranakpur Jain Temple, as well as weekend trips to the unmissable Taj Mahal or Jodhpur desert safari.

You can enjoy yoga, cook local dishes, learn Rajasthan dances or practise henna at the volunteer accommodation - a great way to learn about Indian culture. Volunteers have free time in the evenings where they can relax, read a book, watch films and TV in the communal areas.

Trips

During your first week the local team arrange trips to the following local sights:

• Monsoon Palace - offers stunning views of Udaipur!
• Waterfront cultural theatre dance and puppet show

Travelling in India before or after your placement

Popular activities in India that you might like to combine with your project are:

• Visiting the Taj Mahal – a visit to India is not complete without a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the World
• Exploring the spectacular city of Jaipur and its beautiful palace and fortress complexes
• Experience life in the Thar Desert and the iconic ‘Blue City’ of Jodhpur
• Look out for the elusive wild tiger in Ranthambore National Park and see the best of Northern India’s wildlife including jackal, crocodile and sambar deer

For more information on India and some of the things we loved when we visited there please see our India country page. This also features all our other India volunteering projects as you might like to consider combining this project with one of the others we offer to make a trip of a lifetime!

Climate

The city of Udaipur has a tropical climate. Temperatures are coolest from November to February, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 19 to 23˚C and can go down to 7˚C on a cold night. The dry season coincides with these ‘cool’ months.

The hottest months are from April to June, average daytime temperatures are approximately 28˚C but can reach to 35˚C on a hot day. Temperatures remain high during the monsoon season which generally runs in Udaipur from June to September.

Rebecca – 2019

“I absolutely loved working at the Animal Rescue project in India. The accommodation with Ravi and Gaurav is absolutely great. They are very helpful and living with other volunteers is really fun. 

The Animal Rescue project was such a beautiful place to work. The long term volunteers and workers are super helpful and appreciate you volunteering. 

There is so many activities, like feeding, loving and giving physio to all the animals in different areas. When the weather got warmer we also got to do hydrotherapy with the disabled dogs which was fantastic!”

Roslyn – 2018

“The staff at the Animal Rescue project are friendly and helpful. They are very busy and there’s lots of work to do with animals brought to the hospital several times a day. This is why volunteering there is so important. I would recommend it to any animal lovers out there considering it!

Brilliant support from the POD team and Lucy in particular. She is a good person to go to with questions about the project/ travel/ accommodation and I found her very helpful. 

Great accommodation; better and bigger than I expected including a very large roof terrace. Superb hosting skills from Ravi, Neha and Gaurav who endeavour to support you throughout your volunteer experience.”

Catherine – 2018

“I have recently returned from the Animal Rescue project in Udaipur. My whole experience was amazing from working closely with animals and other volunteers to the accommodation where I couldn't have been made to feel more welcome. 

I plan a return trip next year and will certainly be using Pod Volunteer to arrange my placement again. I would recommend to anyone... cannot fault anything at all, my whole experience was brilliant. Thank you!”

Brian and Zoe – 2018

“Our experience at the Animal Rescue project was extraordinary. The centre itself was a hive of positive activity, all of it directed towards taking care of the variety of animals that had been rescued for so many different reasons. 

The permanent staff were welcoming and helpful, and the volunteers, from a wide range of countries and experiences, worked tirelessly alongside them. Everyone was thankful and happy to be there and the common love of animals brought everyone together in ways that so many other experiences never could. 

Our time at the Animal Rescue project was nothing but positive and rewarding, and mere minutes after having to leave we began to think about when we might be able to return.”    

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